SCC, Lees-McRae joins to offer nursing degree

The North Carolina Board of Nursing recently approved Surry Community College to offer two new Regionally Increasing Baccalaureate Nurses (RIBN) programs in collaboration with Lees-McRae College.

The partnership between Surry and Lees-McRae was created to provide area students with “an affordable and accessible opportunity” to attain a baccalaureate degree in nursing on the campus of the Surry college, according to officials with Surry Community College.

Admission is open for interested parties to apply for Surry’s new RIBN program, which will provide students with an opportunity to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree at Surry. Additionally, Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) can also apply for Surry’s new program to join a track that will allow them to obtain both an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.

Students participating in either program are dually enrolled at Surry and Lees-McRae, taking classes on campus at Surry and online at Lees-McRae. At the end of the second year of the LPN to BSN program, and the third year of the ADN to BSN program, students can take the licensure examination for registered nurses and are then eligible to work as a RN while completing their final year of nursing courses online with Lees-McRae.

Application for each program requires a Surry Community College General Admissions Application, a Lees-McRae College General Admissions Application, and official transcripts including documentation of successful completion of a state approved program for Nurse Aide (CNA) I training. Additionally, interested parties must meet or exceed the benchmark scores for placement tests including the Test of Essential Academic Skills Test, must have a 3.0 grade point average or higher.

Application materials for the RIBN program are due by Feb. 15 for students who take the academic skills test in February, and on May 15 for students who take the admission test in May. The test is offered Feb. 23 and May 25 for these applicants.

Application materials for the LPN-BSN Program are due Nov. 15, for students who take the admission test in December, and on Feb. 15 for students who take the admission test in March. The test is offered Dec. 1 and March 2 for these applicants.

“Employment opportunities are vast within the global health care system and may include positions within acute, chronic, extended, industrial, and community healthcare facilities,” the community college said in announcing the program. “Additionally, opportunities in nursing including management and leadership, community and population health, and case management are available to graduates of this program. “

For more information on Surry Community College’s Nursing programs, contact Dr. Yvonne Johnson, associatedean of Health Sciences, at (336) 386-3368 or johnsony@surry.edu. Follow Surry’s Nursing program on Facebook @surrynursing.